Current Weekend – Things to do this weekend in Toronto
I. Live Music & Concerts
1. Lisa Fischer and Grand Baton
A star of the Oscar-winning documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom (2013), Lisa Fischer’s name may not be on the marquee when she’s on tour with The Rolling Stones, Sting, or Nine Inch Nails, but her astonishing range, her spot-on intonation, her mastery of the stage, and her vocal tone wraps itself around your heart and won’t let go. Watch out, as she steps out front to lead her own band!
273 Bloor Street W, Toronto
January 26 – 27: Vance Joy: The Fire and The Flood Tour at Massey Hall
January 30: A State of Trance – Armin Van Buuren @ Enercare Centre
2. Symphonie Fantastique
For her second appearance of the season, the always extraordinary soprano Barbara Hannigan takes centre stage for Henri Dutilleux’s mystical song cycle based on texts by Rainer Maria Rilke, Prithwindra Mukherjee, Alexander Solzhenitsyn, and Vincent van Gogh. Following that, Peter Oundjian is your guide to the vivid landscapes of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique.
See all upcoming Sony Centre for The Performing Arts Events
3. TMC Choral Conductors’ Symposium Concert
This annual concert brings together a pot pourri of classical and contemporary choral music, two great choirs, and five conductors. It is the culmination of the TMC’s annual Choral Conductors’ Symposium where five emerging conductors from across North America spend an intensive week of workshops and rehearsals with Artistic Director Noel Edison.
1585 Yonge St., Toronto
4. New Music Festival
The 2016 New Music Festival features work by JUNO Award-winning Canadian guest composer Allan Gordon Bell, as well as brand new music by U of T students, faculty and alumni. The festival week includes performances by Land’s End Ensemble, Gryphon Trio, Cecilia String Quartet, as well as all U of T major ensembles.
5. Ontario Philharmonic
The sensational Ontario Philharmonic and Marco Parisotto present their Masters Series at Koerner Hall with a look at three distinct works by skilled musical genius Tchaikovsky. Joining the OP is one of Canada’s most thrilling violinists, Alexandre Da Costa, for Tchaikovsky’s standout work, the Violin Concerto op.35 in D major.
273 Bloor Street W, Toronto
6. Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra Winter Concert
Chase away the winter blues with the TSYO! Shalom Bard conducts the Youth Orchestra’s talented musicians in an uplifting program of two exuberant overtures by Shostakovich and Rossini and the gloriously romantic First Symphony by Sibelius.
7. The Band of the Royal Marines
With signature precision marching and a reputation of excellence worldwide, The Band of the Royal Marines regularly performs at Royal Albert Hall, in the Horse Guards Parade in London, and the military tattoo in Basel, Switzerland. A military band with a long tradition of musical distinction, the Royal Marines will lift your spirits and set your toes tapping. This will be a spectacular evening of pageantry and military traditions featuring the haunting sounds of bagpipes and powerful Highland dancing .
8. Live Music @ GTA Venues
1. Ian Thomas – Ian first hit internationally in 1973 with “Painted Ladies”. Over the years he has acquired a JUNO award, four SOCAN classic awards for Painted Ladies, Right Before Your Eyes, Hold On and Pilot, a UNICEF Danny Kaye Humanitarian award, JUNO and Gemini nominations,15 albums and nearly as many top twenty record.
2. A Night of Beatles Classics – Canada’s favourite pianist John Sheard (CBC radio’s Vinyl Cafe) welcomes David Celia and Mia Sheard for a night of Beatles Classics. Take a walk down Penny Lane, a stroll through Strawberry Fields and re-visit Yesterday. You’ll know every single tune.
3. Mozart & Gershwin – The youthful genius of Mozart and Gershwin are featured in this program combining classical and jazz elements. Our own concertmaster, Joseph Peleg is featured in Mozart’s teenage Violin Concerto #5, while Italian pianist Mauro Bertoli performs the dynamic Piano Concerto of George Gershwin. This is a concert that will warm the winter’s chill.
4. DakhaBrakha -With their name meaning “give/take” in the old Ukrainian language, it comes as no surprise that DakhaBrakha has experimented with their Ukrainian folk music by adding rhythms of the surrounding world; creating a bright, unique, trans-national sound, which includes accompaniment by Indian, Arabic, African, Russian, and Australian traditional instrumentation.
II. Theatre & Other Events
1. Performing Arts Events
Performing Arts & Theatre in January
The Winter’s Tale @ Coal Mine Theatre
Within the Glass @ Tarragon Theatre’s Mainspace
Kinky Boots @ Royal Alexandra Theatre
One Night Only: The Greatest Musical Never Written @ Factory Theatre
Siegfried (opera) @ Four Seasons Centre
Phase Space @ Betty Oliphant Theatre
Bigmouth @ Panasonic Theatre
Twelve Angry Men @ Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Spamalot @ Meadowvale Theatre, Mississauga
Stepping Out @ Alumnae Theatre
The Gay Heritage Project @ Buddies in Bad Times Theatre
The Cherry Orchard @ Berkeley Street Theatre
Hedda Gabler @ Berkeley Street Theatre
Elle @ Theatre Passe Muraille
Gaslight @ Ed Mirvish Theatre
Saturday Night Fever @ Rose Theatre, Brampton
The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine @ Michael Young Theatre
Cowboy Versus Samurai @ Michael Young Theatre
The Trial of Judith K. @ Theatre Passe Muraille
2. Milton Film Festival
The Milton Film Festival brings the best of local, Canadian, and international films.
1010 Main Street E., Milton
3. Progress Festival
Progress is an international festival of performance and ideas presented by the SummerWorks Performance Festival in partnership with The Theatre Centre.
III. Sports & Related Events
1. Toronto Raptors
2. Toronto Marlies
3. Toronto Rock
4. Mississauga Steelheads
IV. Exhibitions, Festivals & Other Events
1. Winterlicious
Toronto’s winter culinary celebration offers the perfect opportunity to discover delicious cuisine at more than 200 restaurants and experience unique culinary events.
2. Tackle Impossible Road Safety Challenge
Kelly Lycan: Little Glow from Thursday, December 10, 2015 to Saturday, February 6, 2016 @ Susan Hobbs Gallery, 137 Tecumseth Street, Toronto.
3. Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival
Steam Whistle hosts the 3rd annual Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival.Come enjoy the ultimate outdoor festival for craft beer & food truck lovers. The Roundhouse Winter Craft Beer Festival will showcase only beers from Ontario Craft Brewers, based on their passion to re-kindle and keep alive the spirit of traditional brewing: independent ownership, smaller batches, artisanal styles, quality ingredients, all-natural and undiluted. A range of fun winter-inspired activities will be available including marshmallow roasting.
4. QS Grad School Fair
5. The 905 Road Show: A Creativity Cabaret
Diaspora Dialogues is bringing its 905 Road Show to Black Creek, North York in partnership with Yorkgate Mall and York University’s TD Community Engagement Centre. The show features a mash-up of readings, performances, and more. Come out and be a part of a relaxed afternoon of entertainment featuring some of North York’s very own. Details
6. The Toronto Tea Festival
We have gathered world-renowned experts from the world of tea to tantalize your senses. Tea sommeliers, published authors, cultural fashion specialists, musicians, a tasting competition & exhibitors abound will engage the enquiring, novice & enthusiast in tea legend, tradition & trends. The Toronto Tea Festival presents courtesy tea tastings, raffles, delectable tea-food offerings, tea ceremonies, seminars, & volunteers to assist in your tea journey.
Appel Salon, 2nd floor, 789 Yonge Street, Toronto
7. Toronto Tours & Walks
Explore Toronto through speciality guided tours & Scavenger Hunts!
1. Tasty Tours: Tasty Tours offers a variety of Sweets Tours along Toronto’s eclectic multicultural neighbourhoods.
2. Murder at the ROM: A murder mystery scavenger hunt! A curator has been murdered and you must follow the clues through the museum collections to solve whodunit.
3. The Mummy’s Curse : A murder mystery scavenger hunt! Did the mummy’s curse strike the museum? Solve the clues to uncover the truth.